Wandering With Bill

Cuenca is Ecuador’s third largest city with 300,000 + residents, sits in what passes for a valley in the Andes. It is 8,200 feet above sea level and flanked by still higher mountains.

It carries the legacy of Spanish occupation in its lovely Old Town, now a Unesco World Heritage Site.

And it is renowned as the home of the Panama hat — yes, the Panama hat.
Tourism centers on the Old Town, of course, and the starting point for sightseers must be the central Plaza Calderon, which underwent a six-month restoration, completed in 2002.

The most appealing building here is the 16th century Old Cathedral which was also restored, but for use as a cultural space.

Its replacement as a house of worship is the New Cathedral across the square. Built between 1885 and 1960, it is less appealing on the outside, but there is plenty to appreciate on the inside, including a prodigious application of gold above the altar. In some design elements, it reflects local pre-Hispanic culture: stained-glass windows featuring Andean people, the sun (worshipped by the Incas) and the moon (worshipped by the indigenous people who got here before the Incas).

After these de rigueur viewings, it is time to walk the streets of the Old Town. Restoration projects have produced a particularly charming outcome for visitors, the creation of boutique hotels that are tourist attractions themselves.

The two-story, family-owned Santa Lucia was built as a private home in 1859 and debuted as a hotel in 2002 at the completion of an award-winning restoration that preserved the character of the original. Its 20 rooms surround a central patio, which is now the setting for the Trattoria, one of two Santa Lucia eateries (per room, including breakfast: $65-$100).
The Carvallo, with 30 suites, is a beautifully refurbished 1917 home with an entry atrium showing off wooden balustrades on the second and third floors; at the back, a second courtyard is surrounded by more rooms (per room, including breakfast: from $50).

A restoration across the street produced the very popular Cafe Eucalyptus, which serves more than 60 tapas items, averaging only a few dollars each.
The Hotel Victoria, is one of the Old Town’s “hanging houses.” These are huge homes built on bluffs overlooking the Tomebamba River. The Victoria dates from the 17th century and was recently converted to a hotel (per room, including breakfast: from $35).

These blufftop homes seem to spill down the side of the riverbank, as well; therefore, to get to the restaurant at the Victoria, we entered the building at city-street level and walked downstairs. As we ate in Victoria’s El Jardin, where a big glass windows afforded grand views of the city across the river (three-course meal: $15-$20, without drinks; choosing lobster bumps the price up).

Finally, the best of the hotel conversions, tour operators say, is the 19th century Mansion Alcazar, which in 2001 debuted its antiques-filled drawing room and 14 rooms positioned around the traditional courtyard (per room, including breakfast and English tea: $65-$155).

Services charges and taxes of 22% are added to all hotel rates, as well as to restaurant bills, eliminating the need for tipping.

Shopping choices vary: Cuenca’s Thursday fair offers plenty of Andean handicrafts, not to mention a chance to look over medicinal drugs brought in from Ecuador’s rain forest.

But, for something quite different, visit the workshop/gallery/store of ceramic artist Eduardo Vega to choose from colorful works in traditional and modern styles.

The best-known local industry is hat making. Teddy Roosevelt dubbed these Ecuadorian toppers “Panama hats” after seeing them on construction workers at the Panama Canal site.

Although the hats originated in the jungle and are still made in Ecuadorian villages, Cuenca is home to the big factories, and the Homero Ortega P. & Hijos factory is the biggest exporter. Travelers can tour the facility (call ahead for an appointment), or skip the factory tour and drop in at the Homero Ortega hat shop.

There are other Cuenca hat factories plus numerous shops in Cuenca and elsewhere in Ecuador for buying this local specialty.

The hats come in many styles and colors. The prices (based on a survey in the capital Quito, as well) cover an astonishing range, from $10 to something in four figures. The variation reflects the quality of the fiber and the weave, and the very finest hats can be rolled into tubes without damage to their underlying shape.

Finally, a couple of other, good-news tidbits deserving noting:

Travel to Ecuador is considered long-haul, but there is no jetlag because the country is in the same time zone as the U.S. East Coast; there is a one-hour time difference in summer because the U.S. has Daylight Savings Time, but a country on the Equator does not need it.
And there’s no need to change money as Ecuador has adopted the U.S. dollar as its national currency, too.

An incredible ride to the rolling countryside of Ecuador – this is what awaits adventurous travelers embarking on the Nariz del Diablo train track. With the English translation meaning “Devilís Nose” this historic track earned its name not because of its perilous route. Instead, the Devilís Nose refers to the almost vertical wall of rock just 130 kilometers east of the coastal town of Guyaquil.

When the Ecuadorian government tried to build their first railway to link Guayaquil and the capital, Quito in the 19th century, they found the Nariz del Diablo to be their main obstacle. To overcome such obstacle, the engineers created a series of tracks that zigzags their way out of the rock. This also means that the train has to ascend 800 meters either in a forward or backward motion.

Indeed, Nariz del Diablo was one of the most massive engineering projects in the mountainous Andes region. It was even dubbed as the most difficult railway in the world. During its construction in the late 19th century, some 2500 workers are said to have died. Thus, many people believed that this section of the highlands is cursed. Despite the tragedy and mystery behind building this track, Nariz del Diablo still stands today. Its standard route of 12 kilometers connects the two towns of Alausi and Sibambe (Pistishi).

The ride promises to be quite memorable as it unveils the wonderful mountainous terrain of the Andes including the gorgeous sections of Carihuairazo and Chimborazo. As the train zigzags into the steep section and eventually descends down to the Devil’s Nose, it grants its passengers an uninterrupted countryside view, highlighting rolling lush hills as far as the eyes can see. The incredible panorama is one of the reasons Nariz del Diablo should be high on your list of “must-dos” when visiting Ecuador.

The Nariz del Diablo train ride typically comes with a guided tour. It begins and ends in Alausi. Each way takes about 45 minutes, but there will also be some allocated time to explore Sibambe (Pistishi) before heading back. You will find that train has kept much of its original design intact which makes it an even more enjoyable experience. Guests are ushered into wooden railroad cars with cushioned seats. You will be able to raise the windows so you can take photos of the beautiful surroundings.

The Devil’s Nose train journey acquaints travelers with the charming mountain town of Alausi, tucked in the country’s central highlands and is characterized by its church and colorful buildings. On Sundays, the town becomes livelier as a market opens and locals tend to wear the traditional clothing called paramo. At the next town of Sibambe, passengers are usually given the chance to disembark and get some refreshment while watching a traditional dance performed by locals.

The Nariz del Diablo train route runs from Tuesday to Sunday including public holidays. There are three regular time schedules – 8am, 11am & 3pm. Although tickets can be bought at the train station on the day of your planned excursion, the operation times can change at any point so it might be wise to check the schedule a day before.

One of the best things about owning an RV is that it gives owners the ability to see the country without having to pitch a tent. In fact, many Americans have been buying these vehicles and striking out across the nation. These people have a special privilege: first class tickets to some of the most beautiful spots in the country. Travel by camper offers full immersion in beautiful national parks and campsites, and the chance to meet some of the most friendly, welcoming people around. Here’s a list of just a few of the places you’ll want to visit with your RV.

1. Sacramento River, California

The Sacramento River is actually the largest river in the state of California, The area is famous for its history as a magnet for prospectors during the gold rush in the 1800s. The river spans over 400 miles, stretching from the Klamath Mountains in the North to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, very close to the San Francisco Bay area. Because of its huge length, trekkers can find rugged mountain slopes, vast wooded trails, traditional campsites, and some very beautiful vistas. Because of its potential as a prime wilderness destination, a number of RV parks have cropped up along its bank, from high-end establishments with free wi-fi to more spartan camp settings. Either way, a week spent in any of these places is a wonderful getaway.

2. Zion National Park, Utah

Though this one is a bit lesser known than some of the more famous National Parks, it’s absolutely beautiful. Mountainous vistas, six mile long Zion Canyon, and some amazing wooded areas await the intrepid traveler. Along the outskirts are several locations for you to park your ride. On top of everything else, visitors who stay near the southern entrance, in Springdale, have relatively quick access to such attractions as Bryce Canyon National Park and the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

3. Fairbanks, Alaska

Nestled in central Alaska, Fairbanks is actually a fairly major city, by Alaskan standards. It offers plenty of natural wonders, particularly on the outskirts of town. Notably, it’s a favorite of guests who are hoping to catch a glimpse and a photo of the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis. The city is home to several friendly places to park your RV and offers a large network of trails for hiking and biking. In addition, visitors can take shuttle busses to such famous tourist destinations such as the Riverboat Discovery cruise, Pioneer Park, and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.

4. Yellowstone National Park

This one needs no introduction. Perhaps the most famous place in the United States National Park system, adventurers here have a once in a lifetime opportunity to see huge hills, broad fields, impressive forests, majestic animals, and some very beautiful geysers. A wide range of RV sites are located around the park, offering very convenient access.

With all of these wonderful destinations in your grasp, it’s no wonder so many have taken up RVing as a great family pastime.

Our daughter in New Jersey hasn’t seen her yard for months because it’s covered with snow. Our son in North Carolina finished raking leaves a while back just in time to get out the overcoats in preparation for the frigid weather ahead.

My wife Cynthia and I, we’re weather junkies, who like the climate to be perfect…not too hot and not too cold…

The thermometer was already getting close to 100 degrees when we left Las Vegas for Cuenca, Ecuador almost five years ago. We’d had enough of that scorching heat—as well as the humidity and chilly winters in the southeast where we previously lived…

Besides the attractive cost of living, the mild climate of Cuenca was one of our major reasons for moving here. We wake up every day with no threat of natural disasters or thoughts about wildly fluctuating temperatures. The temperatures in Cuenca range from average highs of 70 F to lows of 50 F. Relative humidity is usually around 75%. Rainfall amounts to 2 ½ inches per month. Please remember these are averages. Within any given period of time a lot of something can be happening—clouds and coolness or sun and warmth.

When you’re home in front of your computer dreaming of escaping to an ideal climate you don’t conjure up images of shoveling snow or sweating bullets. No, you picture “perfection.” You tune out getting soaked in a downpour and getting bit by mosquitoes.

The mild climate in Cuenca, Ecuador ensures that you’ll never pay for a heating or air conditioning bill again.

In truth the spring season from beginning to end often manifests all sorts of volatile, unpredictable weather patterns. And so does Cuenca. On a daily basis. A joke among locals is, “If you don’t like Cuenca’s weather, just wait an hour.”

What’s a “typical” day like? You may wake up to overcast skies and chilly temps. By mid-morning the sky is partly cloudy and sunny.

Out of nowhere a storm blows in. An hour later it’s sunny again. In late afternoon you’re cold. At night the air is noticeably warmer and you stroll around downtown in a light sweater.

Homes in Cuenca have no heating or air conditioning. This is great news regarding your utility bills. But when, as sometimes happens, the skies remain overcast for days, your residence never gets a chance to warm up. During last “winter” (July and August for us) the temperature inside our apartment ranged from 64 F to 58 F for a two week period. That’s pretty darned chilly.

We were uncomfortable, to say the least, as we moved a portable heater from room to room and cranked up our heated mattress pad each night before retiring. By donning extra layers we got through it, and yesterday I was sunbathing in a lounge chair outside.

I met an expat couple last week who were scouting Cuenca as a possible retirement destination. It was a somewhat chilly evening and the guy said, “I don’t think this place is right for me. I need somewhere that’s warmer.”

I replied, “You can be warmer living an hour from here. But you’ll have to contend with humidity and bugs. I prefer living in Cuenca and putting on a sweater when I need to.”

“Huh, I hadn’t thought of that,” he admitted.

So, yes, Cuenca does in fact enjoy year-round spring-like weather. And, no, every day is not “perfect.” But if you move here you won’t find yourself dripping with perspiration, and you can leave the snowshoes at home.

Courtesy of: Edd Staton

BUT, I LOVE ECUADOR!

I have visited Ecuador many times and each time, I find it better than the last.

I’ve visited the Capital City of Quito in the northern Andes. I’ve also visited Cotacachi and Otovalo in the north at elevations reaching 9,000 feet plus above sea level.

Otovalo is home to the largest outdoor market in all of South America and Saturdays are the days to visit. During the market’s peak, almost one third of the town becomes full of stalls selling textiles, tagua nut jewelry, musical instruments, dream catchers, leather goods, fake shrunken heads, indigenous costumes, hand-painted platters and trays, purses, clothing, spices, raw foods and spools of wool … and more.

I’ve visited the beautiful old colonial city of Cuenca, that’s nestled in the southern Andes at over 8200 feet above sea level. Cuenca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is reputed to be the home of the largest expat population in all of Ecuador. If you ever get an opportunity to visit, you’ll understand why. The weather is spring-like year round and it has a never ending growing season, so there’s no shortage of fresh produce and fruits year round.

I’ve also spent a good amount of time on the Pacific Coast at Salinas and traveled up the coast visiting the various villages and towns. Salinas, with its near-perfect weather, also has a thriving expat population.

Having said all that, now I see this article that gives 19 reasons to NEVER travel to Ecuador.

CLICK HERE: To read the article

This is my top 15 list of must try street foods in Ecuador. There are some Ecuadorian street foods that you will find in every region (Coast, Highlands, Amazon, Islands) of Ecuador and almost every city or small town. There are also some street foods that are very regional and unique to specific cities. There are many items that are not on this list, so it will be no surprise if I get comments about foods I missed. In fact, I’m sure that right after I post this, I’ll think of something that should have been on the list. I included some of the most popular and easier to find dishes, but left off some of the dishes that are extremely city or holiday specific, and harder to find. I also left out foods that you will find at Ecuadorian bakeries, but are also occasionally sold by street vendors (rosquitas, roscones, bizcochuelos, quesadillas quitenas, suspiros, alfajores, mazapanes, and others). I will include those in a post later on about Ecuadorian baked treats.

One of the best places to find delicious street food is at ferias or local fairs and fiestas (local festivities). Other popular places include markets, main plazas on weekends, beach towns, bus stops, and at the exits of local schools. There are some traditional dishes that are popular at markets that I didn’t include in this list, like hornado, fritada or llapingachos in the Highlands or encebollado fish soup in the Coast. This list of popular Ecuadorian street food is mainly for foods that are very portable and can be eaten while walking in the street or around the fair – the others usually require you to sit down. Keep in mind that not all street food is created equal and if you are concerned with both the quality and health of eating street food, then it’s best to get recommendations from locals on which are good (and safe) places to try these dishes. I have yet to get sick from eating Ecuadorian street food (knock on wood), but I was born/grew up there (and therefore have some sort of immunity), but when I’m visiting a town I don’t well, I usually ask friends or locals (ask local store or tienda owners, someone who works at the hotel you’re staying, or even the taxi driver) for places that are good.

In no particular order, here are the top 15 Ecuadorian street foods that I recommend you try when you visit our beautiful country:

Empanadas: We love empanadas in Ecuador! The most common ones that you will find in the streets, especially in the Sierra or Highlands, are called empanadas de viento, these are fluffy fried cheese empanadas that are sprinkled with sugar. Other popular street empanadas are empanadas de morocho, made with thin corn dough and stuffed with cheese or meat, and the amazing empanadas de verde made with green plantain dough and also with fillings of cheese, shrimp, chicken, or meat picadillo.

Ecuadorian fried cheese empanadas de viento

Carne en palito, chuzos or pinchos: These thin beef skewers or meat on a stick are very popular at fairs and local fiestas. They are sometimes served with a piece of chorizo and/or ripe plantain on the tip. A bonus, most carts selling carne en palito also sell grilled corn on the cob or choclos asados. Both the meat and corn are usually served drizzled with a delicious cilantro queso fresco sauce.

Ecuadorian carne en palito, pinchos or chuzos cart at the fair

Huevitos chilenos: I think of these as Ecuadorian donut holes, except better and more addictive than the traditional American donut holes. These can almost always be found at ferias/fairs and local street parties.

Huevitos chilenos preparation in Ecuador

Mangos/grosellas/ovos or ciruelas con sal or pretty much anything green and sour with salt: I don’t know a single Ecuadorian who doesn’t experience a mouthwatering sensation at the mention of mangos or grosellas con sal. Grosellas are also called Otaheite gooseberry and is small green cherry like fruit that is very acid and tart – the perfect combination with salt. Ovos (name in the Coast) or ciruelas/siriguela (name in the Highlands) look like large olives and are also known as jocotes in Mexico/Central America – they are delicious and sweet when ripe, but also very delicious when they are green.

Green mango with salt

Green mangos and ciruelas or ovos with salt Grosellas con sal

Espumillas: Don’t let these meringue cream desserts fool you, they are served in ice cream cones, but aren’t cold. The most popular flavor is guava (called guayaba in Spanish), but you can also find mora (blackberry), strawberry, and other flavors.

Ecuadorian street food – espumillas

Helados or ice cream: We also love ice cream in Ecuador, from the famous helados de paila or fruit sorbets made by hand in large copper bowls, to the more humble helado de palo or basic popsicle that almost every little tienda has for sale. Some of my favorite helado de paila flavors are naranjilla (also known as lulo), mora or blackberry, maracuya or passion fruit, taxo (known as banana passion fruit), and ron pasas (rum raisin). My favorite helados de palo flavors are the basic helado de leche con canela o cinnamon milk, mixed fruit salad, coconut, and helados de gelatina or gelatin ones. I also highly recommend helados de Salcedo, a layered popsicle of multiple flavors including cream, naranjilla, mora, taxo, and more.

Helado de paila ice cream preparation in Ecuador

Ecuadorian street food – Helados de paila Naranjilla or lulo ice cream in EcuadorEcuadorian helados de coco

Chochos, chifles and tostado: Chochos (lupini beans), chifles (thin green plantain chips) and tostado (Andean corn nuts), and maybe popcorn, are the Ecuadorian equivalent of the chips and salsa that you automatically served at most Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in the US. And our hot sauce equivalent is either aji de tomate de arbol, a salsa made with tree tomatoes or tamarillos, or tomato and onion curtido salsa. This trifecta of snacks is also a very popular street food in the Highlands known as cevichocho or ceviche de chochos. The street vendors will mix the chocho beans in small plastic bowl/cup/bag, with the curtido salsa, and some lime juice, then add the the crunch tostado corn nuts and chifles on top. You can have aji or hot sauce added if you want, as well as other condiments like ketchup.

Chochos, tostado and chifles for cevichochos

Salchipapas: Salchipapas are my Ecuadorian street food/fast food weakness, it’s basically french fries – served in a bowl or plastic cup (or even plastic bag sometimes)- topped with small bite size pieces of hot dogs, salsa rosada (which is mayo + ketchup or homemade mayonnaise with tomatoes and spices), tomato and onion curtido salsa, and sometimes also tree tomato or tamarillo aji hot sauce. These are not made equally and you really have to know where to get the best ones based on where you live, or ask the locals because chances are they know exactly where to find them. In Loja, try Soda Bar, and in Vilcabamba try the ones that they on the main plaza on weekends.

Salchipapas

Ceviches de carreta at the beach: I love love love love ceviche and some of the best ones I’ve had are at the beach. They have these little ceviche carts and they will the ceviche for you fresh on the spot, of course it depends on the seafood – things like shrimp/octopus are already cooked and usually the fish ones are already marinated/cooked in lime juice. But the ones made with conchas negras (black clams/conch) and oysters are opened and chopped in front of you.

Ceviches de carreta at the beach in Ecuador

Corviche/ Bollos de pescado /Tortillas de verde or green plantain deliciousness: A corviche is a cross between a fried dumpling, a fritter, and fish cake. The dough is made from green plantains and it has a fish filling –usually corvina fish from which it gets its name. Corviches are usually sold at the beach and are especially popular in the coastal province of Manabi. They are served with tomato and onion curtido salsa. Bollos de pescado are another green plantain, peanut, and fish specialty from the coast, the best way to describe bollos is that they are like tamales made with green plantain dough, filled with fish – usually albacore tuna, wrapped in banana leaves, and steamed. They are so delicious and are served with slices of lime, lime pickled onions or curtido, and aji hot sauce. Tortillas de verde are thick green plantain patties stuffed with cheese.

Ecuadorian bollo de pescado Ecuadorian tortillas de verde or green plantain patties

Cocadas/bocadillos/alfeñiques/ dulce de guayaba/etc or the sweet treats: Ecuadorians love sweets and there is no shortage of local sweet treats for sale at markets and on street corners. Some of my personal favorites include cocadas, a caramelized coconut macaroon candy, bocadillos o sweet squares of panela or piloncillo melted with peanuts, alfeñiques – also called melcochas – are sticky (or crunchy) toffee like candies made with panela/piloncillo, and dulce de guayaba or guava paste candies.

Dulces or sweets at a local fair in Ecuador Ecuadorian cocadas

Ecuadorian sweets – melcochas and bocadillos
Morocho: This is a warm thick sweet drink or drinkable spiced corn pudding made with morocho cracked corn, milk, cinnamon, sugar and raisins. It’s one of ultimate comforting warm drinks and is very popular in the Andes or Highlands region.

Ecuadorian morocho corn drink

Emborrajados/lampreados/platanos maduros asados or ripe plantain yuminess: Emborrajados are fried ripe plantain slices (and sometimes ripe bananas) that are flattened, add a slice of cheese in between a couple of these flattened ripe plantins, dip this ripe plantains sandwich in batter, and deep fry it. Maduro lampreado, also known as gato encerrado, are very similar, except that the plantains are kept whole and sliced lengthwise in the middle, stuffed with cheese, dipped in batter and fried. Maduros asados are grilled or roasted plantains (or also fried), this is mainly ripe plantains but sometimes green ones also, roasted on a small grill, and usually served with a slice of cheese.

Emborrajados or plantain and cheese fritters

Ecuadorian street food – grilled plantains Ecuadorian fried ripe plantains

Jugos de fruta, agua de coco & other drinks: Freshly made fruit juices and other drinks are very popular in Ecuador and you will find juice places on the street, at the markets, and also carts selling drinks like refrescos o frescos (watered down fruit juices), chicha de coco, and on the beach you will find vendors that sell coconut water, juices, and even cocktails. You will also find people selling drinks and even fresh fruit (usually peeled and cut) at bus stops, police controls, and tolls. In my hometown of Loja, you will also find ladies selling horchata lojana, a sweet herbal floral tea drink (served either hot or cold), it is delicious and you can have the extra healthy version than includes blended aloe vera (not my favorite personally due to the texture). Another popular drink, in small towns and on weekends, is guarapo or pure sugar cane juice.

Tree tomato juice in Ecuador Chicha de arroz or fruity rice drink in Ecuador

Ecuadorian juice and cocktail stand at the beach

Ecuadorian guarapo or sugar cane juice

Other street food dishes: Ok, so by the time I got to the end I realized there were so many things I was missing, so this last one is a quick list of other delicious Ecuadorian street food. Don’t miss papas rellenas or stuffed potato dumplings, croquetas de choclo or fried fresh corn cakes, chicharrones or deep fried pork belly, cascaritas/cueritos which are crispy fried or roasted pork skins, habas con choclo y queso which is a yummy combination of boiled corn, fava beans and cheese, sanduches de hornado/pernil or roasted pork sandwiches, higos con queso or candied figs with fresh cheese, pristiños and buñuelos or fried pastries with panela syrup during Christmas season, colada morada and guaguas de pan during Difuntos or Day of the Deceased, hot dogs de la Gonzalez Suarez ,muchines de yuca or stuffed yuca or cheese stuffed yuca croquettes/dumplings, bonitisimas corn patties, and all the delicious corn/banana or achira (arrowroot) wrapped goodies like quimbolitos, humitas, hayacas, tamales. Other drinks to try include rosero quiteño (in Quito), a fruity corn drink, and canelazo/naranjillazo hot spiked (or not) drinks in the Highlands, as well as local Pilsener and Club beer, Guitig mineral water, Tropical and Fioravanti Ecuadorian sodas.

Ecuadorian street food stands

Ecuadorian cueritos or fried pork skin Food carts at the fair in Loja

Situated at the edge of the Andes, surrounded by hills; Tena is Ecuador’s gateway to the pristine Amazon rainforest and the ultimate jungle experience. It is also called the ‘cinnamon capital’ of the country due to it flourishing cinnamon growing industry.

Tena is small enough to get around easily. Upon entering you will be greeted by the statue of the town hero named Jumandy, who in 1958 led the uprising against the Spanish colonizers. Founded by missionaries, the capital of the Napo Province is linked to both Masahualli River and the Napo Rover, which is a tributary of the great Amazon River. You will find the two rivers joining at the center of town.

Tena has been receiving many visitors over the years that it has some readily set facilities and tours geared towards eco-tourism. The hotels and restaurants are general inexpensive, catering to backpacking. The main attraction here is no other than the green thick forest that lie ahead and the rivers that adorn the surroundings. In this place, travelers come from all over to engage in exciting outdoor adventures.

The enigmatic rainforest area is about 15 to 20 kilometers from the city. To get a panoramic view of the jungle, make your way to the Jatun Sancha Biological Station. Here, you can stroll to the jungle on a well-maintained path and climb up a 30-meter tall tower with a viewing platform. The Biological Station has been established to conduct research and lead rainforest conservation projects. Thus, it is an excellent spot to learn more about the Amazon. As for jungle trekking, you will not find it difficult to find guides that will show around the most interesting parts of the lush terrain. You can find several tour offices at the northern part of town in an area called Avenida 15 de Noviembre.

A kayaking trip on the rivers of the Amazon is one of the top activities to experience while here. The Amazon Rivers situated in the region of the Andes have a consistent flow and are considered to be the cleanest and most beautiful in the country. If you want to do something more thrilling, then go for the adventure of whitewater rafting. Tena has been the perfect spot for this and even became the host for the World Rafting Championship in 2005.

Jatunyac is one of the renowned rafting rivers in the area that generate strong rapids and huge waves. Other attractions that are a short ride away include the Jumandi caves, the Misahuallí village and the Sumaco Volcano. If you just want to relax and stay in town, chill out at one of the sandy and pebble beaches situated on the shores of the River Pano.

Aside from the natural attractions, another pride of Tena are its indigenous tribes that continue to thrive and be politically strong in the country. The two main communities living here are the Ashin (Association de Shamanes Indigenas de Napo) and Fonakin (Federacion de Organisaciones de la Nacionalidades Kichwa de Napo). Taking the time to get to know the tribal folks and their way of life is also a very rewarding travel experience.

Tena is approximately five hours southeast of the city of Quito, and is connected to the capital by a road, albeit not paved all the way through. The town maintains a bustling bus terminal and a small airport.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nagib_Georges_Araman

Quito, Ecuador – Quito is at 2,800 meters above sea level and it’s not uncommon to feel short of breath or have a mild headache when you first arrive. Luckily, Ecuador has a cure.
When people think Ecuador they think the Galapagos and while those enchanted islands are incredible there’s a lot more to this Andean country.
Adventure seekers will love the active volcanoes, Romeos will make the most of the cheap red roses and fine chocolate and anyone with a sense of the fun won’t want to miss the chance to stand astride the hemispheres with one foot planted on either side of the equator.

1. The official “Middle of the World” monument is in the wrong place
Ecuador is named after the equator that runs through the country.
One of the must-do tourist attractions is to stand astride the line that marks the middle of the world — just make sure you pick the right spot.

The “Mitad del Mundo” monument was built in 1979.
It’s an impressive 100-foot statue about 15 miles outside Quito and has a bold yellow line supposedly marking the line of zero degrees latitude.
The only problem is that it’s actually 240 meters off. We know this thanks to accurate GPS readings that many of us carry around in out pockets.
A new tourist site has been created, this one with a red line that marks the planet in two and a sign that proudly declares: “Latitude: 00º 00′ 00” calculated with G.P.S.

2. Coca leaves are a great cure for altitude sickness
Quito is at 2,800 meters above sea level and it’s not uncommon to feel short of breath or have a mild headache when you first arrive.
Symptoms of altitude sickness can be worse if you head higher into the Andean mountains without acclimatizing.
Drinking plenty of water and avoiding alcohol and caffeine would ease the symptoms.
And Diamox works well, but takes two days to kick in.

Coca leaves — sold in small neighborhood stalls — are a useful quick fix, as is coca tea.
Just remember to ditch any coca leaves before you fly home — it’s illegal to bring them into the United States and many other countries.

3. Roasted guinea pigs are a delicacy
Known in the local Kichwa language as cuy, the furry little creatures are flattened and roasted whole over an open fire.
You won’t find them on every restaurant menu in Quito.
This is a premium priced specialty dish served in only a handful of the capital’s eateries and in the countryside.
A whole roasted guinea pig costs about $20-$25. It has a gamey flavor not unlike rabbit and is usually served with potatoes and corn.
Cuy are so highly prized that a mating pair is considered a valuable wedding present in the countryside.

4. Ecuador is the world’s largest exporter of fine cacao beans
Much like wine, chocolate reflects the terroir or flavors of the region where it’s grown.
Ecuador’s diversity of terrain, rich volcanic soil and location on the equator make for fine growing conditions.
Plant the same Arriba bean in Ecuador and Africa and the Ecuadorian cacao will have a more complex, refined taste.
As the demand for more flavorful chocolate has risen, so Ecuador has become a hot destination for chocolatiers and tour operators are getting in on the act.
Metropolitan Touring recently teamed up with Pacari chocolate to launch a two-day tour into the Amazon to visit a cacao farm, see the harvesting process and even get involved in grinding the beans and making artisanal chocolate over an open fire.

5. Roses are cheap
It costs $2.50 for 25 long-stemmed red roses.
Direct from the greenhouses, 25 can be grabbed for as little as $2 — making it cheap for anyone to be a Valentino.
The rose industry only started about 20 years ago, but within a decade it was third only to oil and bananas.
With ideal rose-growing conditions, Ecuador is also ahead of the game in terms of producing new varieties.

6. Ecuador has one of the highest densities of volcanoes in the world
Ecuador sits on the so-called “Ring of Fire” on the edge of a very active tectonic plate.
Just south of Quito two parallel chain of Andes that cross Ecuador from north to south rise in dramatic peaks.
This stretch of summits is known as “The Avenue of the Volcanoes” and it’s worth getting a window seat as you take off from the capital to witness the spectacle of the snow-capped volcanoes.
Tungurahua just south of Quito has been one of the most active volcanoes on the planet for the last few years.
In Kichwa its name translates as “Throat of Fire” and it has been erupting since 1999, most recently last April when it let rip a spectacular plume of ash several kilometers high.

7. Ecuadorians pay to have their children beaten with nettles
Not some form of child abuse but a traditional healing practice said to purify the soul.
A kind of detox, it’s available for adults as well as kids.
The folk remedy involves stripping down to underwear and being whacked with nasty stinging nettles to chase out negative energy.
Next the healer deploys a good thrashing with a bundle of herbs, including laurel and mint, to help soothe the sting.
Finally, there’s a rub down with rose petals.
Casa Gangotena, which prides itself on offering authentic local experiences, can arrange the half-hour ordeal for $40.

8. The sharks are friendly
Seriously.
Sharks in the Galapagos are so well fed that there’s no need for a cage to swim alongside them — and that’s a real buzz.
This includes all sharks, not just the native Galapagos reef shark which can reach three meters in length, but also whitetip reef sharks common throughout the archipelago.
Even the more formidable hammerhead sharks are safe.
They’re not interested in a human lunch because there are such rich pickings to be had in the crystal clear waters.
While Galapagos sharks eat mainly fish, the more powerful ones have been known to eat other sharks, sea lions, turtles and iguanas.

9. Those headhunting stories are true
Tribes in the Amazon once cut off their enemies’ heads in the battlefield and “shrank” them.
A tribe called Shuar who live in the region of the Amazon basin that straddles Ecuador and Peru continued the practice until the 1950s.
Shrinking heads was a complicated procedure associated with deep spiritual beliefs and traditions.
Only those with a strong stomach need read on.
The first step involved peeling the skin away from the skull, using a knife to work the flesh away from the bone.
The skull was then discarded and the head boiled for 30 minutes — which shrank it to about one-third its size.
Anyone with a macabre interest in mini-heads can see some at the Intinan Museum (Manuel Cordova Galarza, Quito).

10. The Panama hat is actually from Ecuador
So why is a traditional toquilla straw hat from Ecuador called a Panama?
The straw came from Manabi on the west coast of Ecuador, which is where Eloy Alfaro was born.
He went on to become the Ecuadorian president from 1842 to 1912 and made his fortune making toquilla hats.
He exported them to Panama where the lightweight hats were ideal in the tropical sun and were snapped up by workers and U.S. engineers building the Panama Canal.
When U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was photographed wearing one during a visit to the canal the shot went viral — in a 1904 sort of way — and demand for a “Panama hat” surged.
The hats are still a classic summer staple, but sadly for Ecuadorian producers the name has stuck and even in Quito they are advertised as Panama hat.

11. Voting is compulsory
Ecuador introduced compulsory voting for all citizens aged 18 to 65 years old in 1936. Only the illiterate are excused.
Voters are given a certificate to show they’ve fulfilled their civil duty — without it they can’t get married or buy property unless you have a very good excuse or pay a hefty $50 fine.

Courtesy: CNN